Financial Grants and Scholarships | American University of Sharjah

At AUS, we do our best to ensure that financial means do not become a hindrance for qualified students to get the best education they deserve.

Students—regardless of race, gender, religion or national origin—are encouraged to apply for financial grants and assistance. We offer a wide range of grants and scholarships for undergraduate students, as well as graduate assistantships and work-study opportunities for graduate students.

Bachelor's: Grants and Scholarships

AUS has designated funds available for highly qualified undergraduate students with limited financial resources. Admitted students may apply for a financial grant regardless of their race, color, gender, religion or national origin. 

New first-time students at AUS may qualify for a financial grant, a merit-based scholarship and a Family Tuition Grant (awarded to the younger sibling when a family enrolls two or more children at AUS) to cover up to a total of 55 percent of tuition and fees. After their first semester, students may also qualify for additional scholarships.

Scholarships

Online application forms for scholarships will only be active when we are accepting applications. See the deadlines for each scholarship below. Online applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on the day of the deadline.

*Prior to creating a new application, kindly ensure that you are connected to the AUS VPN. 
Windows users  | Mac users
If you have difficulty with the VPN or in accessing the application form(s), please contact the IT Service Desk by submitting a ticket to servicenow.aus.edu.

New first-time students

Chancellor's Scholars Award

(The Chancellor's Scholars Awards are highly competitive and are awarded only in fall semesters)

Newly admitted students may apply for the Chancellor's Scholars Award which ranges from 75 percent to 100 percent of the tuition, lab and housing fees if they meet the following requirements: 

  • submit an essay detailing extracurricular activities, talents, social activities, and anticipated contribution to AUS
  • outstanding personal qualities and leadership abilities in school and the community
  • scientific or literary contributions to the community
  • special school or community honors or awards
  • community service and school extracurricular activities
  • a minimum average of 95 percent or equivalent in the last three years of secondary education
  • have limited financial resources

Deadlines for newly admitted students to apply for this scholarship:
Fall Semester 2024: June 20, 2024 

For Chancellor's Scholarship Application, please click here.

Merit Scholarships

AUS offers a range of Merit Scholarships (ranging from 10 to 30 percent of tuition and lab fees) to academically qualified applicants with a high school average equivalent to 90 percent or above in either (1) at least two of the last three years or (2) final year of secondary education. Merit Scholarships are automatically offered at the time of processing the admission application. A separate application is not required.
For the Merit Scholarship Acceptance Form, please click here.

Sharakah School Scholarship

The Sharakah School Scholarships are highly competitive and are awarded only in fall semesters.

Partner Sharakah Program Schools can select/nominate one exceptional student (an AUS applicant) from their school for the Sharakah School Scholarship of 45 percent remission on tuition, lab/technology fees and on-campus housing (sharing for women and men; single and double for men only). To be eligible, applicants must be evaluated by an established school committee, within the following guidelines:

  • demonstrated outstanding personal qualities and leadership abilities in school and the community
  • have made scientific or literary contributions to his/her local community
  • received special honors or awards for community service and school extracurricular activities
  • achieved a minimum high school average equivalent to 90 percent and above in either (1) at least two of the last three years or (2) final year of secondary education    

Deadline for schools to select/nominate the applicant and send the nomination to AUS: end of the first week of July every academic year.

Continuing Students

Active Student Scholarship

Click here for more information.

Athletic Scholarship

Click here for more information.

Chancellor's List Scholarship

Subject to available budget, students placed on the Chancellor's List at the end of the spring semester are eligible for a Chancellor's List Scholarship, which provides a tuition remission (for a maximum of 16 credit hours) of up to 10 percent including lab/technology fees. This remission is applicable to the fall semester immediately following the spring semester when the student was placed on the Chancellor's List, provided that in this semester the student is enrolled as a full-time student and is receiving no more than 95 percent of student financial grant and/or scholarship from AUS and other external sponsors.

Application forms are not required. The Chancellor's List Scholarship is awarded during the third or fourth week of classes of the fall semester.

Dean's List Scholarship

Subject to available budget, students placed on the Dean's List at the end of the fall or spring semesters are eligible for a Dean's List Scholarship, which provides a tuition remission (for a maximum of 16 credit hours) of up to 10 percent including lab/technology fees. This remission is applicable to the semester immediately following the semester when the student was placed on the Dean's List, provided that in this semester the student is enrolled as a full-time student and is receiving no more than 95 percent of student financial grant and/or scholarship from AUS and other external sponsors.

Application forms are not required. The Dean's List Scholarship is awarded during the third or fourth week of classes of the fall and spring semesters; it is not available in the summer.

Endowed Scholarships

AUS offers a number of need-based endowed scholarships, which have been made possible through generous contributions from individuals and organizations. Students who receive a financial grant from AUS and fulfill the criteria for a particular need-based endowed scholarship will be considered. Students selected for an endowed scholarship will be notified by the Office of Financial Grants and Scholarships. Endowed scholarships are awarded only in fall semesters.

Most Outstanding Active Student Award

Click here for more information.

Petrofac Endowment Scholarship

The Petrofac Endowment Scholarship provides assistance for junior and senior students in the College of Engineering who have limited financial resources and who demonstrate academic excellence and exemplify the hallmark traits that characterize American University of Sharjah: honor, integrity, leadership and service to others. These scholarships are awarded only in fall semesters. 

Deadlines for enrolled students to apply for or renew the Petrofac Scholarship: 

Fall Semester 2024: March 21, 2024 

For a Petrofac Endowment Application or Renewal Form, please click here.

Sheikh Khalifa Scholarship

The Sheikh Khalifa Scholarship, awarded to juniors and seniors, recognizes  academic excellence, leadership potential, service to community, demonstrated talent in the field of study, and participation in extracurricular and university activities.

The Sheikh Khalifa Scholarship is awarded through an annual competition conducted within each college/school. It is granted for up to four consecutive semesters or until graduation requirements are complete, whichever occurs first, provided the continuation conditions are met. The Sheikh Khalifa Scholarship covers tuition up to a maximum of 16 credit hours. This scholarship is not awarded for the summer term.

Students interested in applying for the Sheikh Khalifa Scholarship must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and must be a full-time student (minimum of 12 credits). Conditions for Maintaining the Sheikh Khalifa Scholarship achieve a minimum semester GPA of 3.25 maintain a full-time student status (minimum of 12 credits) not be suspended or placed on conduct probation

The application process and the deadline to apply for the Sheikh Khalifa  Scholarship are announced by each college/school during the fall semester each year.

 

 

Grants

Online application forms for grants will only be active when we are accepting applications. See the deadlines for each grant below. Online applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on the day of the deadline.

Prior to creating a new application, kindly ensure that you are connected to the AUS VPN. 
Windows users  | Mac users
If you have difficulty with the VPN or in accessing the application form(s), please contact the IT Service Desk by submitting a ticket to servicenow.aus.edu.

Financial Grants

We have funds designated for highly qualified undergraduate students with limited financial resources.

After you have been admitted, you may apply for a financial grant if you are a first-time student and meet the following requirements:

  • have received an official letter of admission to the university
  • have limited financial resources

Enrolled students interested in applying for the Financial Grant must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and must be full-time (minimum of 12 credits) or registered in the Achievement Academy Bridge Program. 

If you are eligible for a grant, the amount of the award will depend upon your financial need and your academic qualifications. If you live on campus in a shared or double room, you may be eligible for partial assistance toward your residential hall fees.

Grants are awarded regardless of your race, color, gender, religion or national origin. Please contact the scholarship supervisor after you have received your letter of admission. You will find the contact information at the bottom of this page.

Deadlines for newly admitted students and returning students to apply for financial grant:

Summer 2024: May 9, 2024 
Fall Semester 2024: August 01, 2024 
Spring Semester 2025: January 02, 2025 

Deadlines for enrolled students to apply for or renew the financial grant award:

Fall Semester 2024: March 21, 2024
Spring Semester 2025: October 24, 2024.

For a Financial Grant Application or Renewal Form, please click here.

 

Family Tuition Grant

For families that have more than one daughter/son enrolled simultaneously in AUS as full-time undergraduates in a degree program, a tuition discount of 25 percent is given to each sibling after the first. To receive the family tuition grant, students must complete an application available from the Office of Financial Grants and Scholarships. Applications must be received by the end of the first week of classes. 

Siblings of students who are receiving a 100 percent Chancellor's Scholars Award or the 100 percent Sharakah School Scholarship are not eligible for the family tuition grant.

Forms for Family Tuition Grant can be obtained here.

Study Tour Grant

Students receiving a minimum of 25 percent financial grant and enrolled in a credit-bearing study tour are eligible to apply for funding that can be used to supplement tour costs.

For the Study Tour Grant application, please click here.

 

 

Tuition Exchange Programs

Outgoing Tuition Exchange Students

Tuition exchange programs enable all full-time AUS faculty and staff to apply for the opportunity to send their dependents to study in the USA, and sometimes other countries as well, for a significant tuition discount and/or a total tuition waiver. To find out more, please click here.

Incoming Tuition Exchange Students

Tuition exchange scholarship programs enable faculty and staff from other participating universities to send their dependents to study at AUS completely tuition-free. If your parents work for a university that is a member of one of our two tuition exchange program networks, you may be eligible to apply for a tuition exchange scholarship to cover your studies here at AUS. To find out more, please click here.

Master's: Assistantships and Employment

We offer our graduate students assistantships and work-study opportunities.

If you wish to consider assistantship or employment as a graduate student at AUS, please take the time to browse the following pages:

GA Application and Review Procedures

New Students

If you are a new student, please consult the Graduate Academic Calendar for the application deadline.

You need to provide a completed Application for Graduate Admission with the box requesting consideration for assistantship marked and relevant transcripts to the Office of Enrollment Management by the application deadline specified, in addition to two reference letters.

Continuing Students

If you are a continuing student please click here for the application form and more information.

Final decisions concerning GA appointments are made by the Provost through the Office of Graduate Studies. 

GA Appointments, Workload and Responsibilities

Generally, a Graduate Assistant (GA) performs administrative tasks, serves as a lab or teaching assistant, and/or reads and grades student papers under moderate to minimum supervision of the faculty supervisor. GAs are appointed on a semester-by-semester basis.

The coordinator of your graduate program or your faculty supervisor will provide you with a written statement of duties and assignments at the beginning of your appointment. It will be your responsibility to understand the expectations for your work, but your workload will consist of no more than 20 hours per week. Final decisions concerning GA appointments are made by the Provost through the Office of Graduate Studies.

GA Eligibility

To be eligible for a full or part-time GA, you must:

  • Have been admitted in good standing by meeting or exceeding all university and program-level requirements for full admission. Note that students on conditional or probationary status are not eligible for a GA.
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25. Some graduate programs establish additional and/or higher standards.
  • For a full-time GA, register for and complete nine credit hours of graduate courses or be registered for thesis credit. For part-time GA, register for and complete six credit hours of graduate courses or be registered for thesis credit.

Graduate students who are employed full-time may not hold full-time graduate assistantships but are eligible for part-time assistantships.

Graduate Assistantships (GAs)

We award competitive full and partial Graduate Assistantships (GAs) to qualified graduate students. These are of two types: Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) and Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs). Both are awarded on a competitive, semester-by-semester basis (not awarded in the summer semester). A graduate assistantship may be held for a maximum of two years.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs)

A GRA will provide you with opportunities to develop research experience by working with a faculty member on research-related activities. 

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs)

A GTA will provide you with opportunities to gain teaching-related experience through part-time employment in positions such as lab assistants.

GAs are provided through the program coordinator's office and cover tuition waivers of up to 9 credit hours per semester and/or a stipend of up to AED 20,000 per semester. GAs are expected to work no more than 20 hours per week.

Graduate Student Employment

You may want to consider work opportunities through a department, graduate program or a faculty member's research grant.

These positions are paid on an hourly wage basis at a rate determined by the employing unit. The rate of pay will depend upon the complexity of your duties, the skills required and equity among student workers in the unit.

If you would like to be employed as a graduate student worker, you must be enrolled in a graduate program and registered for at least six credit hours.

You may work up to 20 hours per week while courses are in session and up to 40 hours per week during breaks so long as you meet the eligibility requirements both before and after the break. Please note that you will not be compensated for any hours worked beyond those stated limits.

To apply for graduate student employment, please contact the coordinator or faculty member of your graduate program.

PhD: Assistantships and Employment

AUS offers a limited number of full and partial Graduate Assistantships (GAs) on a competitive basis to PhD students. GAs cover tuition fee waiver and monthly stipends.

A GA is awarded on an annual basis for a maximum of four years, subject to an annual review of the student's academic performance and achievements. Recipients of the GAs will be involved in conducting research within a research group as well as performing teaching assistant duties.

Assistantship Features
  • Full tuition fee waivers for PhD degree requirements
  • A monthly stipend 
  • Mentoring by highly qualified faculty
  • Participation in ongoing research projects
  • Access to state-of-the-art facilities
  • Opportunity to participate in international conferences 
  • Opportunity to acquire teaching experience in preparation for future academic careers
Application Process

Applicants must complete the PhD Assistantship Application Form  and upload it with their application to the PhD program. Final decisions concerning GA appointments are made by the Provost through the Office of Graduate Studies and with input from the PhD program coordinator.

GA Eligibility

To be eligible for a PhD GA, you must:

  • have been admitted in good standing by meeting or exceeding all university and program-level requirements for full admission
  • register for and complete a minimum of six credit hours during each semester of study
  • maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 during your studies at the PhD program at AUS
GA Appointments, Workload and Responsibilities

GAs are appointed on an annual basis based on the students’ performance. The maximum duration of a GA appointment is four years. Final decisions concerning GA appointments are made by the Provost through the Office of Graduate Studies.

The coordinator of your graduate program or your faculty supervisor will provide you with a written statement of duties and assignments at the beginning of your appointment. It will be your responsibility to understand the expectations for your work, but your workload will consist of no more than 20 hours per week. 

Generally, a PhD student appointed as a GA performs research under the supervision of a faculty member, serves as a lab or teaching assistant under moderate to minimum supervision of the faculty supervisor, and may be asked to perform some administrative tasks.

Undergraduate FAQs

General

Can I apply for AUS grants online or by email?

We only accept applications online. Online application forms for grants and scholarships will only be active when we are accepting applications. Please click here to access the required application. Only accepted students with an AUS ID number can apply.

Please ensure that you are connected to the AUS VPN prior to creating a new application.  To connect to the VPN, please follow the steps below:

Windows Users: https://itfaq.aus.edu/faq/118
Mac Users: https://itfaq.aus.edu/faq/119

Is the grant/scholarship that I have been offered renewed automatically every year?

All AUS grants and scholarships are generally offered for one year and are renewable if all criteria are met, unless stated otherwise (please check your offer letter for all terms and conditions). Financial grant applications must be submitted annually.

What are the terms and conditions that I must maintain to renew my AUS grant or Merit Scholarship?

Please refer to your scholarship offer letter, which provides details regarding the terms and conditions.

I have been offered a scholarship and/or financial grant. Is it valid for one year or for the duration of the degree?

Merit Scholarships and financial grants are subject to renewal each year. A student is eligible for a merit scholarship for a maximum period of (inclusive of any leaves and regardless of whether there is a change of major): five years for students in the College of Engineering, 5.5 years for the Bachelor Architecture and four years for all the other undergraduate majors, provided the terms and conditions of the specific grant/scholarship are met at the time of renewal.

How can I be sure that my online application has been received?

Confirmation is provided at the time of submission via a notification on the screen that your application was submitted successfully.

Is the AUS grant and/or Merit Scholarship applicable if I am enrolled in an internship in the summer term?

If you register for a credit-bearing internship, the AUS grant and/or Merit Scholarship will apply.  If the internship is 0 credit, grants and scholarships will not apply.

How can I submit a petition to the Office of Financial Grants and Scholarships?

A petition may be submitted by email to [email protected] clearly stating the reason for petitioning. 

Will the Pass/No Pass grades affect my grant/scholarship?

Please refer to the scholarship offer letter to see the conditions of the grant/scholarship.  If the condition only states that you have to achieve a minimum semester GPA/CGPA, the Pass/No Pass grade selection will not affect the renewal of your grant/scholarship. In order to be eligible for a Dean's List or Chancellor's List scholarship, a student must maintain 15 credit hours in letter-graded courses (not Pass/No Pass) in addition to meeting all other conditions outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog.

How can I contact the Office of Financial Grants and Scholarships?

The best way to contact our team is via email at [email protected]. Alternatively, you may call one of these numbers: +971 6 515 2057/ 2060/ 2072/ 2034/ 2055.

 

 

Scholarships

What is the deadline to apply for a Merit Scholarship?

There is no application required for a Merit Scholarship, which will be based on your high school performance.  If you are eligible to receive a Merit Scholarship, an offer letter will be sent to you at the time of admission.

I have been asked to pay the seat reservation deposit to confirm my Merit Scholarship. Can I extend the deadline?

The seat reservation deposit payment deadline to secure a Merit Scholarship cannot be extended as there are limited scholarships available. However, if all Merit Scholarships have not been awarded at the time that you pay the seat deposit, you will be eligible for the scholarship. You may send an email to [email protected] when you are ready to make your payment to determine if the Merit Scholarship is still available.

Am I eligible for a higher Merit Scholarship if I received my final Grade 12 results after the scholarship was offered?

Please submit your Grade 12 final transcript to the Office of Enrollment Management by uploading it on apply.aus.edu or infodesk.aus.edu. If you are eligible for an upgrade, you will be notified by email.  If you have any questions, you may send an email (that includes your AUS ID number) to [email protected].

What percentage of Merit Scholarship will I be eligible for if I lose my current Merit Scholarship?

Please refer to your scholarship offer letter, which provides details regarding changes in scholarship eligibility status.

When can I apply for the Athletic Scholarship and/or Active Student Scholarship?

The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) will send out information in the fourth or fifth week of classes announcing the deadlines for the OSA scholarships.  Should you need to contact them, please email [email protected] (for Active Student Scholarship) or [email protected] (for Athletic Scholarship).

 

 

Grants

What is the deadline to apply for a financial grant?

Deadlines for financial grants are posted in the Grants section above. The deadlines vary for new students and currently enrolled students, so please check the dates carefully. Applications submitted after the deadline cannot be considered.

I am a new first-time student. Can I apply for financial grant even though I have been offered a Merit Scholarship?

Anyone who has received a conditional or final offer of admission from the Office of Enrollment Management can apply for financial grant.

How long does it take for my financial grant application to be processed?

New First-time Students: The decision is generally communicated within two weeks from the date we receive a complete application.

Enrolled Students: The decision will be communicated after the grades for the semester you applied in are available. For example, if you apply in Fall 2020 for a financial grant for the Spring 2021 semester, the decision will be announced after the Fall 2020 grades are available.

As a new first-time student, can I apply for financial grant without paying the seat reservation deposit?

You may apply for financial grant before paying the deposit.

I am an enrolled student but I did not apply for a financial grant for my first semester. Can I still apply?

Yes, you may apply for a financial grant prior to the deadline announced in the Grants section above.  

Graduate FAQs

What is a Graduate Assistantship?

AUS offers Graduate Assistantships to students on competitive bases. Assistantships cover full or partial tuition waivers and/or a stipend. Graduate assistantships may come in the form of Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) or Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA). 
 

How can I apply for an assistantship?

Master’s students can apply for the assistantship on the admission application form itself. PhD students must complete the assistantship application form available here.

When do I know that I have been granted an assistantship?

After receiving the letter of admission, your program coordinator/department head will send you a notification via email about the decision regarding the assistantship and the details of the award. You need to respond within a specific period of time to confirm your acceptance of the assigned assistantship. A contract will be issued by the Office of Graduate Studies at the beginning of each semester stating the conditions of the award. 

With whom should I follow up concerning the assistantship?

You should contact your department head or program coordinator.

If I am working, would I be considered for assistantship? 

Yes, working students may be considered for partial assistantship. Please communicate with your department head or program coordinator.

How long can a student receive a graduate assistantship?

For a master’s students, the assistantship can be awarded for four semesters. For a doctoral student, the assistantship can be awarded up to eight semesters.

Contact Us

 

Bachelor's: Grants and Scholarships
Office of Financial Grants and Scholarships
[email protected]
Tel +971 6 515 2057/2060/2072/2034/2055
Fax +971 6 515 4050

Master's: Assistantships and Employment | PhD: Assistantships and Employment
Office of Graduate Studies
[email protected]
Tel +971 6 515 2934

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